Simple enough question, the answer is unexplainable even from the most brilliant of minds.

 

The underlying question is…

When did Gloucester City change to Brooklawn?

 

First, let me say my wife and I have lived on the same block of this city forever.

She all her life, and I for 30 years.

The problem I\’m about to explain may only concern a small number of households

but nevertheless has causes me anguish for the better part of 15 years.

 

Somehow, somewhere, some way the U.S.P.S., FedEx, UPS, DHL,

and who knows how many other package delivery services just can\’t seem to locate

Gloucester City anymore.I mean I see their trucks on our streets but they can’t locate me.

 

Be it coincidence that Brooklawn and Gloucester City both have a \”Bergen\” street.

Be it coincidence that there\’s a 300 block in both towns.

The difference being the last four (4) digits of our zip code,

Gloucester City is 1704, Brooklawn is 2704, go figure.

 

Let\’s see, just for starters, we\’ve had tax bills, credit card bills, merchandise, gifts,

magazines, state and federal refund checks, birthday cards, utility bills, food delivery,

and yes even visitors get \”misdirected\” to the other address.

 

I\’ve had to pay more than my fair share of late charges and dispute credit card charges for goods never received.

 

We\’ve seen some of the best stand up comedy routines by Postmasters, Asst. Supervisors, Supervisors, and Customer Service Reps both over the phone and in person.

 

The latest rationalization I\’ve received was that Brooklawn and Gloucester City

share the same zip code and because Brooklawn starts with a \”B\” it\’s first in

the zip code system.

DUH !! Are we not the main Post Office?

 

The second best defense is the \”address software\” reader has a glitch.

The Barcode Scanner says the package belongs in Brooklawn even though

it\’s clearly labeled Gloucester City.

The situation has escalated beyond the point of absurd and into the realm of unreasonable.

 

I try to be a good resident and add the last four (4) digits to the previous five (5)

digits of my zip code on all correspondences to ensure my address is correct and lo and behold the item winds up in Brooklawn or never materialize at all.

 

Even with the correct address on the label in 2 inch bold letters, the item goes missing.It is not properly read by either electronic or human eye all too well.

 

Over the course of say… 15 years, we\’ve gotten to know the occupants of the other address so well we exchange phone numbers and eventually get on a first name basis with them, but it is an apartment building and it\’s tough to keep up with folks in a mobile society.

 

I openly challenge the U.S.P.S. and UPS and FedEx and DHL to try their best to revamp this trifling yet frustrating problem.

But if the past holds true, nothing will happen but finger pointing and ever worsening

customer service for a premium price.

 

Thank You,

Russell Cogill…………Gloucester City

 

Link: | Courier-Post.

The West Deptford High School graduate and 2004 Courier-Post Player of the Year is about to begin his senior year as a safety on the Penn State football team.

His college career includes a current streak of 26 straight games played, 10 interceptions, a first-team All-Big Ten designation and one off-the-field mistake.

The 6-foot, 192-pound Scirrotto was recently elected a defensive co-captain and is coming off a season in which he recorded 65 tackles and intercepted three passes.

Link: – NJ.com.

But the team\’s success also makes its players and coaches highly sought after around the country for their ability and knowledge. A Brooklawn coach finally answered the call.

Gloucester Catholic High School head coach Dennis Barth accepted an invitation to be an assistant coach on the American Legion national all-star team that competed in the Tournament of Stars in June at USA Baseball\’s National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

By Lois Staas

NEWS Correspondent

Resident J. D. Reynolds of Carter Avenue, a 61-year resident of Bellmawr, expressed his concerns about local people who speed and disregard stops signs during last week\’s Bellmawr Council meeting.

\”They have utter disregard for the rights of everyone,\” Reynolds said. \”I have no quarrel with law enforcement. Our police do their best at all times.\”

The traffic area referred to was the Y shaped set up of Carter Avenue and Park Drive that is good egress and ingress to Browning Road, as well as crowded parking that severely obstructs a driver\’s view.

As an example, Mr. Reynolds related he and his wife\’s harrowing July Fourth experience.

He offered two suggestions — a one-way street and strategically placed speed bumps.

Mayor Frank R. Filipek thanked Mr. Reynolds and said, \”The answer is to get people to obey the law. We have about 50 streets with the same problem.\”

Bellmawr Police Chief William P. Walsh was on hand to suggest setting up radar for traffic analysis.

Councilman John P. Bollinger said, \”If you would like to see the data on the traffic analysis, we can arrange that.\”

In other business Robert C. Scarborough took the oath as Class II Special Officer.

Bollinger said, \”I have just one report. Residents should know that during the past month on the west side of Bellmawr, there were some burglaries.

\”The towns involved were Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Westville, and Mt. Ephraim. Police arrested four

men who were involved.\”

Councilman Peter DiGiambattista said, \”On August 13 I will be going to Trenton to finalize the budget with the state.

\”Hopefully, everything will work out to our satisfaction.\”

\”Our summer program is going very well,\” Councilman Louis DiAngelo said. \”We have about 80 to 110 kids a day. Hats off to everyone working. The most important thing is that the kids are having fun.\”

Directed by Dawn Gillis the program runs to August 22, Monday through Friday, 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. (lunch at noon) for children ages 7-12 at the Recreation Center on Bell and Creek roads. Applications are available at Borough Hall on Browning Road.

The program includes tennis, softball, basketball, indoor games as well as arts and crafts.

Also, along with other towns throughout the nation, the Bellmawr Police Department is again sponsoring a unique crime, drug, and violence prevention program.

National Night Out and Live Concert will be at the Recreation Center Tuesday, August 5, from 6 to 9 p. m.

The Borough fire companies, ambulance, police department, and businesses will have displays.

Refreshments will be available, as well as give aways and entertainment for all ages.

So, make some plans to join in a cooperative Police Community Crime Prevention effort.

Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Fran at the Bellmawr Police Department, 931-2121.

Related: Bellmawr News

 

Bill\’s Point of View-Some low life scumbags continue to use the fields across from the $20 million Cold Springs School, Gloucester City as a dumping ground for all kinds of trash. The old carpets in the photo were thrown in the fields within the last 24 hours.

The fields and the patch of nearby woods are the last undeveloped plots of ground in our City. On my daily walks with Lacey and Erica I have seen on several occasions fox, deer, turkeys, skunks and rabbits.

We need to protect this area, not destroy it. If you see anyone dumping trash get the license number of their vehicle and call the police. As for this pile of trash I hope the City will send a truck from the Highway Department to remove it. Otherwise more scumbags will continue to add to the pile.

Related: Litter Bugs

Related articles

• Cnbnews Point of View: Homeless Problem Alive in Gloucester City (gloucestercitynews.net)
• RAILROAD TRACKS in Gloucester City Neglected (gloucestercitynews.net)
• Letters: THANKS TO THE GLOUCESTER CITY FIREFIGHTERS/EMTs (gloucestercitynews.net)
• a Serene Moment in Gloucester City (gloucestercitynews.net)

• Gorman/City Legal Battle Finally Over

• Annunciation School’s Final Bell (Camden Diocese Closes School for good).

• Gloucester City Schools Get Ready For September (painted auditorium, new chairs, students enrolling).

• Gloucester City Board Of Health/Red Cross Blood Drive This Friday at Gloucester Heights Fire Hall.

• Pre-K Registration For Free, Full-Day Program August 20 At Cold Springs School.

Recently, the Mayor and Common Council presented Beth Egan, our library director with a certificate of appreciation.

Beth, with her fuluristic vision has brought our library into the 20^th century with a unanimous Wow! She has re-invented our library by the following steps.

1. She turned a ugly storage room into our reference room that promotes the State of N.J. and the City of Gloucester.

2. By overseeing the installation of approximately forty computers, she has brought the outside world to our doorsteps.

3. Within the library, with past and present books, rental movies and dvds, we try to catch up to her with her thirst for knowledge.

4. The State of the Art microfilm copier enables a person to view our exciting past.

5. The copier machine permits us to copy a picture of the Irish schooner that belongs to us. In case we missed the edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer or the Courier Post, 7-7-2008 with its praise of Ed Walens the Founding Father of our VFW Museum. Also, the many articles in the Gloucester City News, that is a wonderful example of the growing future of Gloucester City.

6. We now have a snack bar and coffee machine in our library so we can cope with our serious issues of homework or gather information to send to friends who are far away with Gloucester roots.

7. The time-out program for our Pre K world introduces our children to books, music and special TV shows.

8. Last but not least Beth has gathered about her, a professional staff, who 95% of the time agree, yes we can do it.

If you appreciate our library, why not drop a thank you note to the library staff. Your conscience will be glad you did it.

Rae Whelan, Gloucester City

By John Schmidt

NEWS Correspondent

 Mayor William P. James said Gloucester City approved an executive order to investigate ideas how the town can conserve energy during last week\’s City Council meeting.

He said the City is investigating the possibility of a four-day work week and zoning in all buildings, and will examine EMS response-apparatus as need-ed.

The City is also implementing the following procedures to conserve energy:

• No idling of vehicles except when it is necessary for K-9 health.
• No use of vehicles on side work without additional compensation from vendors.
• Double up on patrol officers when manpower allows and more bike and foot patrols in high incident areas and business districts.
• No city vehicles will be allowed for personal use.
• No city vehicles to leave town except for emergency situations.
• Turn down thermostats over the weekend during winter and air conditioning off during the summer in all unoccupied buildings and zones.
• Turn lights off when rooms are not occupied.
• Unplug and switch off all electrical appliances overnight and over weekends, and maintain gas logs for all City-owned vehicles to monitor use and mpg for future statistical analysis.

The mayor also said the city is continuing to look for other ideas, and if residents have any to contact the mayor\’s office.

Resident Anthony Parisi, president of the Chatam Square Tenants Association, was upset about the conditions of the Chatam Square Apartments.

\”Properties are so dilapidated, so destroyed, it\’s dangerous and it\’s a hazard. There are health violations. These are circumstances that could lead a person to be physically injured severely or dead,\” he said.

Parisi said the maintenance supervisor hardly shows up, and that inspections were done on April 25 and there has still been no repairs.

Mayor James said that the Housing Department will be heading out there on Monday (July 28).

\”What we hope to do out there is locate the best two buildings and relocate everyone into those locations so that we can start the work on those properties,\” James said. \”It\’s something we realize were responsible to do, and we will be doing it.\”

There was also a presentation by Cool Cities, a state run program that will be planting trees in Gloucester City over the next three years.

It was given by Alexander McCartney of Cool Cities and Adrianne Parent, Vice-Chair of the Gloucester City Tree and Beautification Committee.

The sections that trees will be planted in this fall will be Highland Park, Riverview Heights and from Market down to Jersey, which will also include Broadway.

\”You will get door hangers if you live in the area,\” Parent said.

McCartney said each homeowner will receive a mailing with information.

At the meeting Council approved a $98,500 contract with T&M Associates for engineering services to help develop Freedom Pier and the adjacent areas.

Funds come from a 1996 Federal and State Grant for Economic Development.

Sister Christine from St. Mary\’s Church had a concern about the Parking Enforcement Officer in town.

The situation involved a senior citizen in town who received a parking ticket in the mail.

The resident had stopped her car and got out to help another senior citizen who she was picking up to get into the passenger side of her car, and the driver received a ticket in the mail, Sister Christine said.

The next meeting of City Council will be August 28 at 8 p.m. in City Hall, 313 Monmouth St.

 

Link: ramscrosscountry:

Erin Donohue\’s hometown of Haddonfield New Jersey gave the Sign in front of Haddonfield High25 year old South Jersey Olympian a powerful sendoff less than a week before she leaves for Beijing for the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. The festivities included a parade through Haddonfield for Erin with a parade route mobbed with enthusiastic Haddonfield residents.

Erin, her family and coaches rode in the parade and were proceeded with bands, a color guard and local running club South Jersey AC holding a Erin addresses crowd ….click link to read more and view photos

Monday, August 4, 2008 7:00 P.M.

313 Monmouth Street

AGENDA

1. Call to Order:  
2. Pledge of Allegiance:

3. Roll Call:

4. Sunshine Law: This meeting is being held in conformance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, otherwise known as the \”Sunshine Law\”. It has been legally noticed in accordance with the law and copies have been given to those requesting the same.

5. Public Comment Period: The Governing Body, in accordance with P.L. 2002, c. 80, have adopted the following guidelines relative to the Public Comment Period (PCP) at Caucus, Worksession, Special and Emergency Meetings of the Mayor and Common Council of Gloucester City: The PCP shall occur at the beginning of each meeting; it shall be no longer than one half-hour in length; every person wishing to speak may do so once during the period for no longer than five minutes. No changes have been made for the PCP of the regular monthly meetings.

6. Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s): June 19, 2008, June 26, 2008 (distributed previously but require action); July 7, 17, 24 (pending)

7. Reports: I. Engineer\’s Report:

II. Committees of Council:

1. Celebrations

b) Finance & Administration

c) Fire

1. Housing
2. Licensing
3. Police

g) Public Works

8. Licenses: None

9. Resolutions:

R206 Authorizing Refund of Property Sale Money

R207 Authorizing an Agreement with Interstate Mobile Care

R208 Certifying Annual Audit

R209 Designating Handicapped Parking Spaces: Adding 319 Mercer Street, 953 Somerset Street;

R210 Authorizing Subordination of Mortgage Held by the City of Gloucester City to Secure Housing Rehabilitation Loan

10. Ordinances:  

for first reading this evening with second reading and public hearing to be held on August 28, 2008:

O16 Granting Renewal of Municipal Consent to Comcast of Wildwood, LLC to Construct, Connect, Operate and Maintain a Cable Television and Communications System in the City of Gloucester City, New Jersey

 

for adoption this evening:

O12 Amending Chapter 58 of the City Code of Gloucester City Entitled Junk Dealers

 

for second reading and public hearing to be held on August 21, 2008

O13 Amending the Gloucester City Development Ordinance to Provide for Guidelines for Various Maintenance, Improvements and Historic

11. Old Business:

a)

12. New Business:

a) Handicapped Parking Spaces: 317 Morris St., 718 Division St., 304 Hunter St., 16 E. Thompson Ave. 236 Third St.

13. Communications:

a) Welsbach Progress Report

b) From Sevenson – residential flyer for Holt Vault Remediation Work

c) From Camden City Planning and Zoning – public hearing North Camden Neighborhood Plan August 14^th 6 p.m.

d) From Division of ABC – Gerald F. Dooley, Inc.

14. Round Table:

15. Closed Session: Resolution #R -2008 to enter into closed session for discussion of:

16. Adjournment